Hey guys, Chapter one is up! Enjoy ^-^
Chapter One-And then there was Two
Two penguins hurry to put their equipment together. They struggle against the icy wind and sheer cold
"You didn't have to come!" Yells the blue penguin as he puts on the harness.
"I have too!" The pink penguin shouts back.
"It's a new species and besides there's no way you could do this on your own."
Both penguins carefully start to climb down the cliff, where a glowing yellow puffle is anxiously trapped on a ledge.
"It's okay," the blue penguin announces trying to grab the puffle off the ledge.
The puffle darts forward to bite the blue penguin before quickly backing away again.
"Ow!" The penguin exclaims.
"Here let me try," the other penguin offers.
The pink penguin tries to coax the puffle over as they get closer to the ledge.
"Hey there. It's all right. You're going to be okay." She soothes, "come here. It's all right."
After a few minutes puffle finally bounces over, still wary of the stranger. In one swipe, the pink penguin firmly grasps the puffle into her arms.
"Yes, that's very subtle." The blue penguin notes.
"We're hanging off a cliff by a rope and harness in a snowstorm," she reminds. "Now is not the time to try and take our time. It's too dangerous for us all to be out here to long."
Both penguins check their lines again and then signal a brown penguin to start pulling up the ropes by the machine.
"It's all right," the pink penguin exclaims. "You're safe now."
The puffle seems to struggle at first until its rescuer made sure it was secure in the basket so it wouldn't jump over and down the cliff.
"Ouch!" She winces, and notices the small red bite mark on her fin.
"Are you okay?" Her partner asks.
She nods as PH continues to pull them up. The penguins were almost to the top where the brown penguin is. A huge blast of wind pushes the penguins as if they were on a swing. The pink penguin holds the puffle tightly.
"Are you okay?" The blue penguin shouts.
"Yeah," she yells back. "You?"
The blue penguin nods. Then another blast of wind hits and the penguins go for another swing, both of their ropes rub against the rock. They both look at each other to confirm that they are still okay. The pink penguin gets to the top first and hands the puffle to the brown penguin. The pink penguin looks back at her partner and smiles.
Another blast of wind hits, knocking the pink penguin into the snow. She glances worried at he blue penguin.
"I'm fine," he confirms.
He continues to ascend toward them. That's when she notices the flaw. His rope is shredding from the rub on the stones.
"Matt," she remarks and her muscles stiffen.
The rope has three strands left. The pink penguin rushes to the edge. She tries to grab at the rope.
"Matt, the rope!" The pink penguin points.
Matt looks up and sees the graying rope. He frowns.
"Hurry!" He yells to PH.
He's almost at the landing when the wind picks up again and the rope snaps.
"Matt!" The pink penguin shrieks, reaching out for his fins. "Matt!"
Lily jolts awake. Bad dream, she shivers. Lily looks around her igloo. Her eye adjust to the dark. Two of her puffles are still fast asleep. Luna, her first and closest puffle is laying on her bed when Lily woke up. Luna looks back her with worry.
She's concerned, Lily thinks with a weak smile, before thinking about the dream. It's been a while since then but it still feels like only yesterday. It was supposed to be a simple rescue. Okay maybe it wasn't easy but still I feel like it was only yesterday. The powerful wind, the sharp rocks, the rope.
Lily got up from her bed and walks into the kitchen. Grabbing herself a cup of tea, Lily sits down at the counter. It's three in the morning and she didn't have work again today. Ph told me to take on a couple months off but this is ridiculous. I think working helps keep my mind off of...what happened.
A knock at the door catch's Lily's attention. She walks to the door and opens it.
"I figured you'd be up," greets the penguin outside.
"Ph?" Lily exclaims, "why are you here?"
"I thought we could stop by the coffee shop and chat," Ph explains.
"Oh," she replies.
We walk to the coffee house and grab ourselves a cup of tea.
"So it's been a month," Ph begins.
"Yeah," I state.
I look over at the empty room. Ph has special access to the coffee shop anyway, so it was all right that the shop hadn't opened yet.
"How's Chester?" Ph asks.
I think back to the yellow puffle back at my igloo, still fast asleep.
"He's doing fine," I answer.
"That's good..." she remarks. "You know...you didn't have to take him in. I'm sure I would have found someone he would warm up to. I'm sorry if having him...is taking you back to..."
"It's fine, really" I assure her taking a sip of my tea. "I promise."
"All right," Ph confirms.
We start to talk about a lot of things and before we know it the shop is open. A few penguins file in. One of them is a penguin wearing a necklace under his shirt.
"It's great to talk to you again," I say. "Ph...I'd like to come back to work tomorrow."
"Are you sure?" Ph asks, concerned.
I just nod and look around the shop. Then I think about Matt and the puffles.
"Yeah, I think I so."
Ph looks at me and then sighs, "don't push yourself."
"I know."
A new species of puffles? Sounds exciting. I wonder what kind. Find out what happens next in the story, October 12th!
RR:
Rosa Blythe: It's here now! I hope you enjoyed it and come back next time for even more secrets!